The story of Adam and Eve is beautiful when viewed through the lens of God's presence, but it becomes a sad tale when understood from the perspective of humanity.

The Exodus recounts how God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Under Moses' leadership, they endured plagues sent by God to convince Pharaoh to release them. After the final devastating plague, Pharaoh let them go, only to pursue them with his army. Trapped at the Red Sea, the Israelites witnessed a miracle as God parted the waters, allowing them to cross on dry ground before closing the sea over the Egyptians. Once safely across, the Israelites began their journey to the Promised Land, guided by God through the wilderness.

This story illustrates how easily we can become prisoners of the world, bound by desires that entangle us. In this story, Pharaoh represents Satan, and just as the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, we too can unknowingly become slaves to Satan and his world.

The Israelites cried out to God for rescue, and He responded by appearing as a cloud to lead them, with Moses as His chosen servant. Together, they began a journey through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. This wilderness journey symbolized their sanctification—the narrow path of salvation—while the Promised Land represented the ultimate hope of God's kingdom.

Salvation is with God

Why didn’t God take them directly to the Promised Land but instead lead them through the wilderness? There were lessons and realities the Israelites needed to learn.

God wanted to reveal those who genuinely desired a relationship with Him—those truly seeking salvation. Many claim to follow God, but often their goal is merely to escape hell or ease the hardships of this world. These people sought comfort without letting go of their attachment to the world, failing to see that this world is not their true home. In fact, many Israelites began to complain, wishing they had stayed enslaved in Egypt rather than face the challenges of freedom. Their misunderstanding—that God was saving them not just from Egypt but from the power this world held over them—turned a journey of days into a 40-year wandering.

Today, many seek God only for heaven or an easier life, without understanding His true value or recognizing the dangers of the world that ensnare them. Like the Israelites, they may wander through life until they finally come to see the truth of what God offers. True life is found only in God—not in this world or any other. Until we realize this, we remain prisoners; and if we fail to understand it, even as so-called Christians, we will wander through life in futility.

Religion Can’t Save Us

God descended in a cloud to lead the Israelites, but for His presence to remain with them, they needed to address their impurity. God, in His perfection, cannot dwell with sin. Although He is just and must judge sin, His goal was not to condemn the Israelites but to teach them. He established laws, commandments, and animal sacrifices to make it possible for them to walk with Him. The sacrifices underscored the truth that sin leads to death, while the laws showed them the futility of trying to achieve salvation through their own efforts. Through these, God wanted them to grasp how narrow the path to salvation is and understand that they could not walk it by their own strength alone.

Many desire salvation but still try to contribute to it on their own. True salvation comes only when we fully submit, surrender, and give up on trying to save ourselves. Until we accept that we cannot pay the wages of our sins—since we cannot stop sinning—it’s a futile cycle, like running on a treadmill. Only a sinless man can ultimately pay for all the sins of the world, as He alone has no need for atonement for Himself.

God wanted us to understand that we cannot navigate the narrow path of salvation on our own; without our Shepherd, we easily lose our way. Like sheep, we become prey for wolves, and like children, we frequently stumble off the path. The Israelites illustrated this clearly—every time Moses left them, they quickly fell into foolishness and disobedience.

True Salvation

Many Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land out of fear, revealing their lack of trust in God. This exposed them as a people not yet ready to be part of God's family or enter His kingdom, and they ultimately perished outside its borders.

Our relationship with God is often compared to a marriage—a committed union. I believe God established marriage to help us understand the nature of a true, lasting commitment that endures trials and proves itself faithful. Many enter marriage, but challenges like hardship, finances, and family issues lead to separation, revealing a bond that was not deeply rooted. In contrast, God desires a relationship with us that cannot be broken, no matter what comes against it—a bond of unwavering trust and love. Christians who remain committed to God through life's wilderness journey are assured that in eternity, they will be His forever. In His kingdom, there will be no more divisions or rebellions, only a perfect family united under God with one heart and mind.

If we can let go of our fears, the pull of this world, and our selfish desires, and walk the narrow path of salvation, following Jesus, we demonstrate that we truly belong to Him. Though we may stumble along the way, we can find assurance that as long as we walk with Jesus, we are on the journey toward His Kingdom, where we will spend eternity with God.